Communication in Communities

Wandering around Hanoi today, I thought about a difference between Hanoi and Melbourne, in this case, the difference in communities. Of course we all know the collectivist/individualist differences but specifically I wonder how technology plays a role in these differing communities.

Technology and Social Networking have been discussed as the predominant features of the 21 century. They have been the basis so many posts of late about the point of social networking, and the idea that millennials are keen to use the internet as a means to connect with others is not new. With most of the research being for individualist societies, I wonder if the internet and social networking have the same meaning for different types of cultures, and further to collectivism and individualism in societies.

Living in Hanoi has given me another perspective on this. For those of you who have lived/travelled to Hanoi you will understand what I mean when I begin to talk about street food/meals. Mass community gatherings to eat/smoke/discuss politics that take up the entire footpath. Hanoians prefer to be outside than inside. And, if everyone's outside, surprise surprise, you meet a lot of new people! I remember that when I visited Melbourne this Christmas, I can walk for 5 k's in Melbourne, and not talk (not even a hello!) to an actual person outside. Of course you can see people running with music in, cars, riding bikes, supermarkets, cafes etc)- but just sitting outside talking to people that they don't know? Never. And maybe it's because inside houses/cafes in Melbourne is so nice- perfect temperature, private - it doesn't matter what you're wearing, and now that the internet is out there- you can chat to whoever you want. And, if you want to meet up with others- you can organise it all inside: you don't wait outside for people in your community to join you. And-when you do meet up with friends, you are not so open to having others join them (imagine coffee with your girlfriends and a stranger just sits down and joins you comes in and just joins in your conversation- can you imagine what you might say to them?) In Hanoi, it's so different. It's ALL about being outside- the reason is fairly simple - I prefer to be outside because inside my house is usually moldy, dirty and constantly damp... so we go outside.

  You may think, is this way we interact even related to the Individualist/Collectivist societies and internet use? I think so, when it's connected to what people want out of the internet. I mean, do we want internet for the individual or for the community- or, does it swap when we hit the internet- that is- we are seeking what our society doesn't strive for?

People in Vietnam are taking more than ever, to the internet. If different cultures take to the internet more quickly, how does the internet cater to them all? Indeed, if a site can do this effectively they will get a multicultural worldwide phenomenon- look at any of the successful social networking sites and tell me they don't do that. This leaves me with some questions:

1) Will the internet will close the gaps between individualists and collectivists? Does it cater to more one than another?

2) Facebook, by population is the 8th largest country. Is it collectivist or individualist society (i.e. strive for the greater good, or individual success)?

Hanoi photo: Mimi_K under this license

Empty Street photo: Dr Craig under this license